Emporia State faculty earn tenure and promotions

April 6, 2012

Nearly 25 faculty members from across the Emporia State University campus recently were promoted. At the same time, 16 faculty members earned tenure.

The promotions — from assistant to associate professor and from associate to full professor — each carry a raise in base salary. Earning tenure moves a faculty member from probationary status to continuous, full-time employment status.

Emporia State students are taught by 254 faculty members. Of those, 150, or nearly 60 percent, are tenured.

“Those receiving tenure have demonstrated excellence in teaching as rated by students and peer faculty members,” said Dr. Tes Mehring, Emporia State provost and a member of the faculty for 30 years. “If a faculty member is not a good teacher, they do not receive tenure at ESU.”

Students also benefit from tenured faculty embracing a philosophy of lifelong learning in their disciplines.

“Those receiving tenure have established a track record of research or creative exhibition in their respective disciplines through publication, presentations at professional conferences, musical performance or exhibition of creative works,” Mehring said. “Tenured individuals must also be active in providing service to the university through serving on committees and to the profession through leadership on state, regional, national or international associations related to the discipline."

Emporia State University is a dynamic and progressive student-centered learning community that fosters student success through engagement in academic excellence, community and global involvement, and the pursuit of personal and professional fulfillment.